Take A Look in the Mirror

I think we have all received a compliment that took us by surprise. The kind that makes you look in the mirror, searching for what the complimenter saw. Our best abilities are innate and come naturally to us. So much so that we don’t always recognize them.

We come into this crazy world as unbiased, inexperienced humans. That lasts for about a hot second. Then we’re molded by those closest to us, our environment, and by society. Loved ones who have expectations, history, and hope for the next generation. 

We react to experiences based on what we’re taught, the work ethics we see, family loyalty, and the morals, values, and religious choices of those who raise us. 

We do what we’re told, or as we’re guided by the world around us and those we love and trust. We spend a lot of time trying to fit into a box that we may have no business trying to fit into, structured by those who probably had good intentions, but couldn’t know who we would really become. 

We get used to seeing ourselves the way others do because we haven’t had time by ourselves to know who we are independent of our familiar surroundings. When we do get that time, there’s plenty that’s happened for us to analyze before we can move on.

So when you start to see yourself, you might not recognize that person as the person you’ve been told to be up to that point. You’ll spend a lot of time deconstructing that box that delivered you to this point.

I had a wonderful imagination as a kid and filled my time cutting and pasting my own newspapers and magazines full of ads and stories with my imaginary friends. As an only child, I would have been bored otherwise. I was also a great student and loved English and Math. My mother strongly suggested I go into accounting. I was also a quiet non-conformist, so I became a hairdresser in the mid-80s when hairdressers were seen as not that bright and a little crazy. Okay, a lot crazy in some cases. My mother would have preferred to tell her friends I worked at a bank like her, but the truth was, I ended up making more money than she did.

In 35 years as a hairdresser, I went on to own, run, and sell a successful business, work in sales, become a salon educator, and assist backstage at trade shows. It was a career that served me well.

I remember my stepmother telling me I was patient. She told me often while I was raising my kids. And she wasn’t the only person. When my kids were little the last thing I felt was patient. But I can look back now and see that I felt like I wasn’t patient enough. I wasn’t enough of a good mother. And so no matter how patient I was, I couldn’t see it but other people could. 

I can’t deny the positive results of my patience in my adult children today, and their recognition of it.

Can you see yourself for who you are? The way you want your clients to see you – as a reassuring expert who can help them with their problem?

Or do your eyes wander to what others are doing in your industry, trying to figure out who you should be?

Take a moment to assess the incredible results you could get simply by being your best, autonomous self.

This is where personal brand messaging is essential. In your business, you’re not selling someone else’s services, products, personality, or perspective. You’re not simply promoting your industry. You are promoting yourself, what you do, and the way you do it. And that promotion has to stand out if you want to be successful.

I’d love to hear what thoughts this stirs up for you. You can schedule a time to chat here.